A few years ago, while working at an ad agency in Toronto, after telling a co-worker about my interest in history, and specfically "the mysteries of history", he challenged me to write a movie about one story in particular: the fact that Columbus did not simply decide to sail across the ocean blue to see what was on the other side of the world, but he had a map - one he had obtained from a sea captain. We now know Vikings had explored North America's eastern shores, and it is likely the Chinese had likewise explored the West Coast, long before 1492. I thought, based on what I had read, that the story of Columbus and his various voyages would make a great movie.

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2. TITLE: HISTORY NEEDS AN ADJUSTMENT
FADE TO:
TITLE: COLUMBUS HAD A MAP
FADE TO:
BLACK BACKGROUND: SOUNDS OF CLASHING SWORDS
WHITE LETTERING (PARAGRAPH ONE):
In 1066, William The VIII, Duke of Aquitaine, and his Norman
barons defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings.
Their plan was to unite and create and rule a new country:
England. After many more bloody battles and in a few short
years the Normans, descended from Vikings, were successful.
FADE TO:
BLACK BACKGROUND: SOUNDS OF JOYOUS MARKETPLACE
WHITE LETTERING (PARAGRAPH TWO):
Years later, William’s descendants returned to France. Their
plan was to claim lands once managed by their ancestors. So
they battled French armies for control of lucrative vineyards
and salt-flats, eventually winning and ruling for another 300
years a large territory today called Bordeaux.
FADE TO:
BLACK BACKGROUND: SOUNDS OF BUSTLING HARBOR
WHITE LETTERING (PARAGRAPH THREE):
Within Bordeaux, we find the port of La Rochelle. It is here
that our story begins, as it was here that sailors and their
descendants learned of the riches that lay directly to the
west across the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean Sea. Routes to
these lands were heavily guarded secrets.
FADE TO:

3. INT. UNIVERSITY CLASSROOM - MIDDAY
In a typical theatre-style university study hall, with merely
a varnished wooden podium in front of a blackboard and only
“Trade”, “Control” and “Commerce” scribbled upon it, an
elderly and bearded male professor is telling the story of
the famed Knights Templar, and of their significant wealth
and rise to power, and of their sudden demise. The students’
mouths are agape at the knowledge they are acquiring while
their teacher unfolds a map of old Europe quickly and then
repeatedly slaps his ruler against to emphasize new points.
TEACHER
(excitedly)
Looking at the road network of
France that the Templars built and
policed, it is quite obvious that
all the great long-distance routes
meet at La Rochelle... here, on the
Atlantic coast. Lying in a natural
bay and easy to defend, the harbor
supported a large and powerful
fleet. We can see La Rochelle is
far too far north to serve as a
viable port of embarkation for
Palestine, and far too far south
for the quick voyage to England.
There can only be one logical
explanation for the position of
this seaport, as the direction
their shipping lines led clearly
neither to the north nor to the
south. The Order's ships obviously
set a course from the port due
west, to America.
He looks out among the audience for any questions.
STUDENT
(hand raised)
Yesterday you taught us that in
ancient times Aquitaine was called
Guyenne. Is it possible that
countries located in South America,
such as Guyana, were so named due
to these very early explorers?
2.

4. TEACHER
Yes, the Vikings would certainly
have traveled further down the
coast from Newfoundland, which they
called Mark-land, as far as they
could in their galleys and ships,
and quite obviously passed on this
knowledge to their descendants,
including those who settled in what
is now Normandy in Bordeaux.
STUDENT
Do you think anyone traded in the
Americas before the Vikings?
TEACHER
Yes I do. We know large Chinese
ships sailed across the Pacific and
traded with Mexican nations, such
as the Aztec, as well as the Incans
further south. Indeed, ages ago
West Africans sailed to Central
America, after their lush Sahara
began to dry out when the Ice Age
melted 10,000 years ago ... which
forced the famed migration of a pre-
flood civilization who I believe
became the Olmecs and Toltecs.
STUDENT 2
(hand raised)
Did the Egyptians...? They were
quite advanced in many areas and
traded with other nation too.
TEACHER
Yes, possibly some Egyptian ships
made it across the Atlantic. They
were certainly sailing along the
coasts of Africa and Asia, as were
most Arab sailors, and several
royal mummies have been found with
South American plants in their
stomachs, such as coca leaves.
It’s also possible that Romans, and
before them the Greeks as well, had
crossed the Atlantic. Hanno, the
Cathaginian, who probably possessed
the route maps passed down from
Phoenician sea captains, sailed and
rowed around Africa to establish
naval contact and trade with Asia.
3.

5. STUDENT 3
Where did the Phoenicians go?
TEACHER
Over time the Phoenicians developed
very big ships with leather sails
and their masters landed on
Brazilian shores, eventually
crossing the equator following the
stars, continuing up river systems
as well, and trading with each
nation they encountered with every
new turn. For instance, they
travelled up the Mississippi River
system and mined ore from Michigan.
Their surviving descendants who
fled Europe and North Africa after
their defeat by the Romans, would
have likely encountered the
Normans, and their offspring, in
fact, the Templars. The Black
Death killed most of the sea
captains in the 1300s. Some
sailors, however, were stationed
abroad during the plight of the
plague and, if not forewarned,
after many years finally returned
with news from their outposts.
STUDENT
What news did they bring back?
TEACHER
That there was gold and silver
mines across the sea and friendly
nations to trade with.
STUDENT
And what did the Templars trade?
TEACHER
Wine, from Bordeaux, among other
things.
STUDENT 2
Is that how oak trees grew on those
two islands in Nova Scotia?
(sarcastically)
They were bringing rare acorns to
trade. I’ll bet the story of their
buried treasure is all a load of...
4.

6. TEACHER
We’ll have none of that language!
STUDENT 3
Do you think maybe the Spanish had
nothing to trade?
TEACHER
When Columbus was sent on his
voyage in 1492 and found land, the
Spanish crown had just won a long
and very costly war with the Moors.
Launching the “Age of Discovery”,
the king and queen, and followed
quickly by other European nations,
recognized the opportunity across
the sea and struck first, deciding
to conquer the new world by force
and simply claim new lands and
people as theirs, as possessions.
STUDENT 3
I guess a lot of people got rich
with all the gold and silver they
“discovered”.
TEACHER
The Spanish king and queen had
heard the legends of the riches of
Tubanama that were to be found
across the Ocean Sea, which were
confirmed and enhanced by Columbus
upon meeting him. He detailed his
knowledge of the wealthy Templars
and their escape from La Rochelle
nearly 200 years ago to distant
outposts in the new world,
Thereby, in the process,
authenticating his own maps and the
treasures that he said merely lay
beyond the horizon, as others had
certainly stated by before him.
CUT TO:
BLACK BACKGROUND: SOUND OF SEAGULLS AND BUSY MEN
EXT. MEDIEVAL COASTAL PORT - MORNING
FADE TO:
5.

7. Early morning, by the Atlantic coast. An old French port is
waking to the sound of roosters on this clear fall day.
The camera follows a set of feet running through cobbled
streets towards the docks. Reaching a crest we can see in
the calm bay below the grand fleet of the Knights Templar.
Most notably, we see the Order’s famous Red Cross emblazoned
across each of the 18 galleys’ large white and triangular
mainsails being unfurled, as the berthed ships and their
crews prepare to leave the crowded inner harbor. They will
sail into open water beyond their looming gate towers,
chained together, guarding the harbor from the array of naval
menaces.
The runner stops for a brief moment and gazes outwards,
beyond the massive chain being lowered between the two large
stone towers, across the sea.
RUNNER
(exhausted and sweaty)
I made it. I’m in time.
As the runner moves nimbly down the dew-glistened hill
towards the inner harbor, there are other runners seen
delivering messages to specific captains of the fleet, who
then proceed quickly to their respective ships and crews.
There are two natural harbors in the bay at La Rochelle, an
inner and an outer harbor. There are two stone towergates at
the edges of the inner harbor, and across them stretches a
huge and thick chain protecting their ships from assaults at
night and fire ships sent in on the occasional tide.
RUNNER
... must find Buzzard...
FADE TO:
CAMERA PANS HARBOR AND ZOOMS TO DOCKSIDE
The panting and drained runner comes aside a large galley and
approaches a working dockhand on the pier.
RUNNER
I must find The Buzzard. Have you
seen her master? He must have
these messages from Paris, before
all is lost.
6.

8. DOCKHAND
Go down the pier; find the crew of
The Falcon, and inquire with their
master. They are brothers. He
will know.
FADE IN:
SUPER-IMPOSED TITLE: LA ROCHELLE, OCTOBER 13, 1307
FADE TO:
EXT. INNER HARBOR DOCKSIDE - MORNING
Hurriedly crossing gangways and decks to get to their
objectives, across the inner harbour several other messengers
were identifying themselves and delivering their precious
secret packages directly to Captains, who were busily
unfurling sealed scrolls, issuing orders and perusing maps of
a voyage to a rendezvous point only now known to them.
At the crack of dawn, sailors are seen calmly yet hastily
getting the ships ready; up and down over the decks,
scurrying in and out of cabin doors, carrying supplies and
equipment back and forth, coiling rope and storing loose
mallets and mops. Nobody stands still.
The runner, readying to hand over his precious package of
documents, approaches the Buzzard’s master, seen counting
crates and varied boxes - and they greet each other with a
firm handshake and mutually respectful appreciative look.
CAPTAIN
Welcome. Come aboard. Would you
like some water?
STUDENT
No, thank you.
CAPTAIN
Do you bring news from Paris?
MESSENGER
I do. This is truly urgent, sir, a
matter that requires your immediate
attention.
CAPTAIN
Hand me the documents then; I
warrant I am the captain of this
ship, The Buzzard.
7.

9. MESSENGER
I am to deliver these documents,
then wait on the hill for day, if
additional ships arrive from the
new world. I must find the Lodge.
Be safe.
The messenger hands over the package of documents, turns to
leave the ship, and briskly walks away.
CUT TO:
EXT: ON DECK OF THE BUZZARD
Upon seeing his Messenger off the gangway, the master turns
slowly to his senior crewmembers, and reads carefully.
CAPTAIN
(sternly)
We’ll be following the Merica star
tonight. Set sail. Man the oars.
FIRST MATE
(loudly)
Man the oars! Take us to open
waters upon the tide.
The galley’s mainsail begins to billow, and the adventure
begins.
CUT TO:
EXT. LARGE WOODEN DOORS - MORNING
Also to the sound of roosters, the King’s medieval soldiers
are heartily knocking down the heavy thick wooden doors and
streaming into a regional commanderie, an ancient walled
compound belonging to the Knights Templar. Once inside the
old 2-storey houses, they find the filthy and bearded old
crusaders sleeping or praying and lead each away in chains,
quietly past their arrayed plots of vegetables and vines,
underfoot, trampled and crushed.
Among the confusion, Templar servants, monks and pensioners
weepingly question the soldiers’ increasingly violent and
remorseless actions. They are rudely restrained and
similarly led away, though being beaten each step of the way,
towards the growing throngs of quiet commoners gathering on
the street.
8.

10. NARRATOR (PROFESSOR V.O.)
On Friday the 13th, 1307, at the
break of day heavily armed
seneschals of France’s King Philip
The Fair were busy arresting all
Knights Templar across his young
country. Yet, having operated in
the noblest and wealthiest of
courts and palaces for 200 years,
the knights’ commander had received
advanced notice of their own
infamous date with destiny.
CUT TO:
EXT. ON A COBBLED ROAD IN PARIS - MORNING
A Templar, with a flowing main of white hair and long grey
beard, is being led away in chains, walking upright, as a
proud Knight would, wearing his cherished white vestment and
emblazoned red patte - but no chainmail, helmet or sword.
He and his men were not to resist the king’s orders.
The well-spoken yet dirty man is being accompanied by the
King’s arrogant bailiff and escorted by a troop of heavily
armed and colorful soldiers, with swords and shields.
They steadily approach a horse-drawn wooden paddy wagon with
its iron bars and bloodied straw-covered floor already
holding several other elder kneeling Templars. Loyal
sergeants and squires are affixed to chains behind the wagon,
anxiously dreading their certainly painful dungeon visit, and
occasionally poked and punched, and pissed on from above.
Stopping several feet from the wagon, the new prisoner
acknowledges and nods to his fellow captives, then turns to
his captors and forcefully and stoically speaks aloud
directly to the bailiff.
CAPTURED TEMPLAR
We will only obey our Master. We
will surrender our selves, but
neither our secrets nor souls. Our
brethren will ensure the completion
of our work.
KING’S BAILIFF
You have incurred the wrath of the
King and the Pope, and you will
confess to your crimes.
9.
(MORE)

11. In the dungeon your feet will be
slowly roasted over fiery coals.
You will be tormented day and
night. Your bloodied body will be
twisted, and then pulled tight upon
the rack. Your brittle bones will
break one by one, and your skinny
arms and legs will hang loose.
CAPTURED TEMPLAR
So be it.
KING’S BAILIFF
When we have completed our work, if
you choose to repent your
confession at trial you’ll be
burned at the stake, surely a
fitting reward for the many
offenses stated against your
heretical Order today.
CAPTURED TEMPLAR
(orating)
You can commit me to the flames
and, by doing so, release my
immortal soul to the heaven’s
above, but you will not have my
confession. I serve my master. No
feeble torment of yours will change
the outcome of our destiny.
KING’S BAILIFF
(laughing)
You will not be so brave tomorrow.
My men, and also their fathers
before them, have had years of
experience in despatching your
friends, the unholy Cathars ... and
not so many of them are around to
be so brave today either. Any left
alive languish in mountainside
caves or in our dungeons, playing
with our hungry rats in the cold
and praying for the end. Now,
climb aboard, old man. Your time
has come, finally.
After the captive Templar climbs into the wagon, and is
locked to the wagon’s chains, and after the Paddy Wagon door
with finality is shut and locked, he speaks again...
10.
KING’S BAILIFF (cont'd)

12. CAPTURED TEMPLAR
Our treasure is secure; the
knowledge of our ancient brethren
is in good hands. We will endure,
and we will be free.
As the dawn sun is still breaking over the city, the wagon
and the captives, and a trail of chained groaning men
following in its wake, move slowly down the narrow medieval
Parisian street drawn by two horses and surrounded by the
king’s guard, seneschals and smiling bailiffs.
NARRATOR (PROFESSOR V.O.)
So while the crown’s men swept
through the castles, priories and
commanderies of the sleeping
giants, arresting the venerable
international merchants and
traders, who protected their
investments with considerable
force, their renowned ships put out
to sea. They went to Scotland
first.
FADE TO:
EXT. A TEMPLAR SHIP DECK - NIGHT
Topside, the Buzzard’s aged Captain is silently using an
ancient Celtic cross to navigate his ship’s course accurately
across the ocean. He reports his findings to his First Mate,
who dutifully records them in the log, as they recall their
time spent in distant lands years ago.
CAPTAIN
Those were truly a few good years
spent among our friends in
Argentina. We will be welcomed
back with open arms.
FIRST MATE
Yes, I look forward to our return.
CAPTAIN
We’ll be on water at least another
week before we land at Acadia.
FIRST MATE
The men are adjusting well to their
new diets. We have enough
supplies. Not like last time.
11.

13. CAPTAIN
Yes, I recall. Before moving south
we must find the island of the
oaks. The trees will be grown now.
We must then unload and deposit the
ancient treasures first, and
securely underground I am told.
Away forever from our enemies.
FIRST MATE
It won’t be long before the French
and English kings are upon us.
These are rich people we are
trading with, though soon to be
discovered...
CAPTAIN
... on many levels. Their
ancestors enjoy a long memory of
adventures and heros, but they have
also seen many horrors. If they
ask, we will help them build roads
and cities, a new world, free from
torment and happy in life. It’ll
be another 100 years before the
monarchies will be upon us.
FIRST MATE
We left our Portuguese allies with
pilot books; in the coming years
they will supply our new lodges and
priories across the ocean with the
finest wine and braid.
FADE TO BLACK.
WHITE TITLE: A FEW GRANDSONS LATER
FADE OUT.
EXT: MEDIEVAL CITY IN THE DISTANCE - DAY
NARRATOR (TEACHER V.O.)
The original inhabitants of the
Americas had established advanced
civilizations prior to being
discovered by the Europeans. In
fact, the Maya had a better system
of mathematics and a more accurate
calendar.
12.
(MORE)

14. The Inca built a system of bridges
and roads to last a thousand years,
and the Aztecs' capital city was
bigger than any European city of
that time.
CUT TO:
INT: COURT OF HENRY IV, KING OF ENGLAND - DAY
The year is 1398, and several northern English lords are
vehemently demanding that the king send his men to accompany
them to find and capture Prince Henry Sinclair and execute
him as a traitor.
They are medieval men, knights in armor, who understand
“might over right”, and they are standing and pounding on
large wooden tables within the stone castle, arguing that
their actions and retribution be swift, as they have reliably
heard the powerful Scottish nobleman Sinclair is preparing to
sail to claim new lands in the west.
In these hard, cruel and crude times, the king raises his
right hand, calms the incensed mead-fueled men, and speaks.
KING HENRY
(curious)
I thought we had rid ourselves of
the Templars, and had taken their
lands in the north and the south.
LORD 1
Our fathers did exactly that. We
are not concerned with them now.
KING HENRY
What then is defiant Prince
Sinclair planning to do across the
Ocean Sea?
LORD 2
We are told that he has already
found plentiful fishing grounds...
and a new home for his treasures.
KING HENRY
Then an armed troop of my best men
will accompany your own and find
Sinclair and bring him to me in
heavy chains, before he departs.
LORD 1
And if we are too late?
13.
FIRST MATE (cont'd)

15. KING HENRY
Then do not return. Wait there.
He will return one day to his
castle. Capture him and his
scurrilous cousin, Sir James Gunn.
LORD 2
And if they refuse to be taken?
KING HENRY
Spare no quarter; oblige them their
wish. The clans are loyal to no
one but themselves. We must end
this fighting. There can be no
more Scottish raids into our fair
lands along the border.
LORD 1
(bowing politely)
I obey you.
KING HENRY
See that my orders are carried out
and be gone. I’ll hear no more of
Sinclair.
LORD 2
And what of his intention to
deposit treasures in faraway lands?
KING HENRY
These rumors of numerous treasures
persist. As you know, we have put
many clansmen on the rack and none
have uttered word of gold or silver
that they protect. There can be no
treasure written on parchment ...
nor concealed in a cup.
LORD 2
(bowing politely)
I obey you.
King Henry takes a moment to pace and think, and look out
across his land, before composing himself, and speaks.
KING HENRY
Your mission then, noble lord, is
to find what comprises their fabled
treasure and bring it to me
forthwith. If you find none, then
you too are advised not to return
either.
14.
(MORE)

16. Be gone, and I’ll hear no more of
this treasure until that day my
court and my people are illumined
by its radiant glow.
LORD 3
What of his lands in the Orkneys
and Faeroes, as well as those at
Rosslyn? These islands belong to
other kingdoms. As you know, he is
a wealthy man and an adventurer,
with many resources and allies on
which to rely, and he may not
return for a year to Rosslyn, his
castle and keep.
KING HENRY
(loudly)
He has an plan that we are not
privy to, yet. Find him! By my
absolute authority we will crush
all resistance and soon enough
these rebel Scots too will bow one
day and obey the rule of law.
CUT TO:
WHITE TITLE: THE SHORES OF AMERICA, 1399
EXT: CAMP - NORTH-EAST COAST AMERICA - MORNING
The men and women of Sinclair’s expedition have spent over a
year in the new world, and have survived well.
In the old world these people knew the rules of a feudal
society, and their role in it, whether rebelling against the
system or making the most of their situation. In this world
they have adapted well to their new environment, especially
given the distinct lack of law enforcement officers.
They obey the authority of their feudal lord and master.
The camera pans the calm scene, as the newcomers are now
living off the land, no longer accessing their ship’s stores.
In a tented camp, they are walking and sitting and chatting
among multiple deer roasting on spits and corn being ground
for their meal. It is the calm before the storm.
15.
KING HENRY (cont'd)

17. Their eating preferences adjusted and now include fresh meat
daily, their fashion requirements have changed too, from the
formal uniform of a member of the noble Sinclair house, to
one heavily influenced by their new neighbors, living along
fertile shores wrapped typically in varied pelts and skins as
the weather gets cooler. They appreciate the fact they are
sharing resources, yet can only communicate on a rudimentary
level with the native population.
By now they’ve traded not only goods but also valuable
services and knowledge - and the relationship is obviously
mutually beneficial. Organized into distinct groups, for
instance, Sinclair’s men are showing the local MicMaqs how to
make and use a fishnet, how to sew furs together, and lace
shoes and boots - and imbuing time management skills.
This has enabled the Indians to build excess stores of fish,
keep warmer, and travel further and more comfortably. But,
as materialism seeps into their society, some Indians are
whispered to be jealous, as this new knowledge has not been
shared with all American tribesmen.
In fact those fortunate enough to trade with Sinclair’s
mobile group are keeping their secrets close, obtaining
considerable advantage in their own game of survival.
Accordingly, alliances were made, unbeknownst to Sinclair.
INDIAN 1 (SUBTITLED)
This is great. I’ve been shown how
to make “clothes” and how to “fish”
and how to “farm” the land, in
exchange for bringing in a new deer
every day.
INDIAN 2
I know. Tomorrow I hear they are
explaining the benefits of “money”,
in exchange for a few fish. If
anything, it’s entertaining
watching these men build these
“permanent” structures.
INDIAN 1
True. They will soon realize
nothing is permanent and they must
appreciate what is here on this
earth now. I don’t think they’ll
be here long anyway.
INDIAN 2
Yes, they are looking for something
called “Argentina”.
16.

18. INDIAN 1
They always talk about the earth
being round, as if we did not know.
They preach the knowledge of our
elders. But they’re honourable.
I’ll miss them.
CUT TO:
WHITE TITLE: MASSACHUSETTS, NEAR WESTFORD
INT: COMMAND GALLEY OF CLAN SINCLAIR
There are three Scottish nobles discussing the next phase of
their plan, as they must now split their force. There are
several squires and scribes, in monks’ gear, nearby.
They finalize each ship’s route: the largest, a newly built
caravel, is to sail across open water south to Argentina;
another small fleet, including several galleys, with the
settling force will meet at Newport by closely following the
coastline, and build a watchtower; and a third group will
sail back to Acadia, and from there follow the currents back
to Scotland, to join the others who returned last year.
SINCLAIR
Agreed then. I will lead the men
and women to Newport, and build a
strong tower there. It will serve
as a beacon for the new ships when
they begin to arrive.
GUNN
I will take my best men up the hill
forthwith and prospect for a
location to build here, as the
fishing is plentiful but we have
not yet explored the other side.
Give us some time, Master.
SINCLAIR
Take a few good men, and be quick.
If the English are indeed behind
us, then we can’t stand still; and
if any of their sea captains are
alive after the Black Death swept
through their harbours, they will
never stop to search in Acadia, as
we have left no presence;
17.
(MORE)

19. save our work underground upon the
isle of the oaks, but they will
assuredly come south seeking
evidence of our encampments and
ships.
ROGER
I agree. I will take the few sick
and emissaries with me north before
the snow flies and encamp at
Acadia. We will depart for
Scotland and send messages of your
discoveries to the other clans, and
to allied priories and commanderies
throughout the old world. We will
return thereafter.
SINCLAIR
Alright James, take your men and
find a good spot to stake a claim
and build a post. There will be
others who will follow in our
footsteps, and we must be prepared
for their arrival, friend or foe.
Then meet the others and set sail
for Argentina. Begin your work.
Gunn departs, after a firm triple handshake, leaving the
other two Scotsmen behind to share some wine together.
CUT TO:
EXT: AT A NEW CAMPGROUND OF EUROPEAN EXPLORERS - DAY
Gunn walks quickly to his awaiting squad of men at arms, who
are in good spirits and no longer wear their under-armor
heavy coats, but elaborately sewn tanned hides mostly and
colored cloth; while expertly sharpening then sheathing their
various blades, as they are told their next mission.
GUNN
Men, we are to climb that hill and
locate and secure the best location
for our new commanderie... then we
can begin to admit squires into
this land - and they will cook our
deer each day! Gather your hammers
and helmets. Let’s move.
The men assemble and begin to move happily into the forest,
being led by local natives from the area, and Gunn himself.
It’s a thinly wooded area, and there is a clear trail to walk
along, with tall grasslands beyond immediately beyond.
18.
SINCLAIR (cont'd)

20. Above the forest treetops, the men can see the hill rising
above them, and wisps of smoke from nearby camp fires. What
they don’t notice is an opposing force of their native
friends’ enemies hiding and preparing a deadly ambush.
CUT TO:
EXT: AMONG BUSHES IN THE TREES - DAY
There are many Indians standing around the forest, sharpening
their flint spears and tightening their bow strings, having
been told to remain where they stand and prepare for battle.
Adorned appropriately, their two obviously intelligent
leaders speak together jovially.
AMBUSH LEADER
We’ll let the metal heads grow
weary from the walk - they are
obviously going up the hill. If
the wolves, lions and bears don’t
get them, we’ll finish them off on
the way back to this place.
WARRIOR
Good - we will wait here. They
will fall and stumble. They will
be tired, thirsty and hungry when
they return. They will die bravely
in battle with my skilled warriors.
We will eat their hearts tonight.
AMBUSH LEADER
We will let a few live and they can
tell the others of our terror, and
of the losses we will inflict
today, and in the future. They
were not invited to tread upon our
sacred places, these are our lands.
They cannot take what is not
theirs. Our fathers tolerated
them, but we will send them home.
WARRIOR
They will not return to this land,
our land. They will not want to.
This is a simple life we lead. We
follow the laws of nature, and a
life not corrupted, which we only
want to preserve for our future
generations.
19.

21. AMBUSH LEADER
Our sons and daughters will not be
poisoned by their “knowledge”. We
need not to hear another story of
their light and wisdom, nor of
their wagons or shipments.
WARRIOR
They know not of our history.
AMBUSH LEADER
Nor will they. This Glooscap will
understand our force ... and will
leave us alone.
FADE TO:
EXT: ALONG A WOODLAND TRAIL - DAY
In the late afternoon, Gunn’s exploring party return along
the trail, unaware of the danger that lies in wait ahead.
They are excitedly talking among themselves about their find
while atop the summit, and indeed weary from their long walk.
Their native friends and guides depart, upon sighting the
camp, returning silently through the trees towards their own
village.
Then, Gunn’s men are met with a lethal rain of arrows,
followed by screaming Indians running towards them with
various implements, mostly stone-enhanced clubs and axes,
being swung about their heads intent on inflicting a lot of
pain and causing incredible damage.
They effectively crush arm and rib bones with each swing.
Though defending themselves well and inflicting considerable
damage themselves in those crucial first few minutes, Gunn’s
men are surrounded and fight a losing battle.
Gunn grabs a closeby sergeant.
GUNN
Smash through. Get to Sinclair.
Tell him of their attack - using
arrows from behind trees is very
effective. Our adversaries are not
armed well, and don’t follow noble
rules of chivalry, but they have
won the day. Go quickly, and take
two men with you.
20.

22. EXT: BATTLEGROUND ASIDE WOODED TRAIL - DAY
Gunn valiantly shields the several men who leave the area
post haste, having been ordered to locate Sinclair and to
advise of Gunn’s assured fate.
As Gunn valiantly fends off the ambushers, the chosen three
men do escape, running down the trail towards Sinclair, only
several minutes after the battle had begun.
As planned, the natives don’t chase the escaping survivors.
Instead, they begin to drag away the bodies of the fallen
Europeans, some still alive, stunned or writhing, into the
forest and to their respective ceremonial fates at the
longhouse this evening.
Their women are seen moving forward towards the battleground,
stopping to also collect prizes from the fallen.
CUT TO:
EXT: ALONG THE SHORELINE - DAY
On this cold, crisp autumn day Prince Henry Sinclair, Earl of
Rosslyn, is returning from the funeral service of his lost
and loyal friend, Sir James Gunn, atop Prospect Hill. While
briskly walking towards his ships, he notices a Clan Gunn
mason chipping at a large flat stone, as a deserved memorial
marker, being completed solemnly as he passes by.
SINCLAIR
Ensure the sword in stone you carve
is broken, as he fought and died in
battle bravely.
Sinclair moves through his bustling encampment, towards a
wooden pier, aside which is his recently built triple-masted
ship, onto which a crew is hastily loading supplies.
CUT TO:
INT: COMMAND GALLEY OF CLAN SINCLAIR - DAY
The two men are alone in Sinclair’s cabin. On the desk there
are various instruments, and a flat map lies with North and
South America’s coastlines detailed, and rolled parchments.
They pace, look out the windows, and talk.
21.

23. SINCLAIR
Our galleys are good for traveling
up and down these coastlines, but
this ship will get our crew down to
Argentina in excellent time.
You’ve done a job befitting your
admirable position, Zeno.
ZENO
We’ve done this for years, but
never while anyone was chasing us,
or so we presume. It’s exciting.
So ... you like our new ship?
SINCLAIR
I didn’t think we could improve the
caravel’s design.
Zeno
Yes, and many thanks. Our native
friends have helped us considerably
in many ways. Why don’t you join
us and stay longer with me? We can
have so many more adventures and
learn so much more together.
SINCLAIR
After Newport, I’m to go back to
Rosslyn and advise lodges and
commanderies that our progress has
borne fruit, yet at tremendous
cost. Clan Gunn will know of their
son’s selfless heroism, as will the
other mothers and fathers I must
address. But we have properly
hidden our treasures and planted
many new seeds here, so I will go
back. You’ve been with me since
the day I rescued you nearly 10
years ago at the Faeroes, and I’m
truly confident you’ll find the
children of our lost ships, and
very likely in Argentina, as you
say. The trading business will
grow again.
ZENO
You have strong faith, on many
levels. Be careful in Scotland.
Surely the English still hunt you
for your successful raid, Your
Lordship. Be wary.
22.

24. SINCLAIR
Fare well my friend, my brother. I
will ensure the remaining ships of
the fleet are fitted and we’ll
leave on the next tide.
They shake hands and Zeno departs.
CUT TO:
INT: MODERN SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY
Their teacher is pacing back and forth, completely caught up
in his speech, as are his students, glued to his every word.
TEACHER
Several generations after Sinclair
sailed the ocean blue, in 1478
Christopher Columbus married into
the most powerful family in
Portugal, the Braganza-Norona clan.
By 1485 most of the Braganza family
had fled Portugal for Spain. They
plotted to kill Portugal's King
John but were unsuccessful. The
King responded by executing the
twelve conspirators, ten of whom
were related to Columbus's wife.
No evidence has been found to
implicate Columbus in the
conspiracy.
STUDENT 3
Those were hard times.
TEACHER
Yes, the Spanish Inquisition had
been introduced by King Ferdinand
and Queen Isabella in 1480 to
enable them to control the
inquiries into whether converted
Jews were really secret "Judaizers"
who kept their original faith.
STUDENT 3
So Jews needed to leave quickly,
before they were driven out...
TEACHER
A year later the first burnings of
8 people occurred as a result of
the Inquisition trials;
23.
(MORE)

25. 2,000 people were burned at the
stake over the next few decades.
STUDENT 3
Was the Pope afraid of the Jews?
TEACHER
The Jews were renowned as both
cartographers and calligraphers,
such as was Columbus’ brother
Bartholomew. The Church purposely
misguided its followers by
suggesting the earth was flat and
the planets revolved around the
earth, in order to undoubtedly
control what lay beyond the
horizon. As most land in Europe
was already controlled, they
launched another Crusade as soon as
they could - in the guise of
explorers and traders.
STUDENT 3
Like St. Brendan centuries before?
TEACHER
He was unique, certainly. But the
Church’s leaders now knew the earth
was round. We now know Columbus,
sent on a mission funded by the
Church, had actually re-discovered
America in 1485.
STUDENT 3
(amazed)
What...? There’s proof?
TEACHER
From the Church itself there is
proof. Inscribed on the tomb of
Innocent VIII in St. Peter’s
Basilica are the words: “Novi orbis
suo aevo inventi gloria,” which
means during his pontificate “the
glory of the discovery of the New
World” took place.
CUT TO:
INT. GRAND HALLWAY TOWARDS PALACE EXIT - DAY
At the time of Columbus's arrival in Portugal, the throne was
occupied by King Alfonso V.
24.
TEACHER (cont'd)

26. He in 1470 appointed his son (who in 1481 would become King
John II) as chief of explorations and discoveries.
The ascent to the throne of John II in 1481 gave Columbus his
last chance to gain a sponsorship from the new king for his
grand design, but he failed.
Christopher Columbus, having just presented to a group of
royal advisors, has just been unceremoniously tossed out of
the outer royal court, for not having a proper plan.
CHRISTOPHER
(disgusted)
I am not a trader or an adventurer.
They said I only want a royal
commission just to find gold. They
have no vision.
FRIEND
With a commission you will become
an Admiral. Maybe the king has
enough Admirals today. Maybe we
should approach another king; they
are quite competitive.
CHRISTOPHER
(sarcastically)
Right ... I admit it, I want to be
an Admiral, and claim lands that I
know lay beyond the horizon ...
where the sun boils the sea and
monsters lurk.
FRIEND
Perhaps you should tell them your
plan is to simply conquer new
territories, bring back food and
promote Christianity.
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, it seems that is exactly what
they want to hear. Fools.
FRIEND
Nonetheless, they respect and need
a plan before presenting you to the
king.
CHRISTOPHER
And they respect titles. I have
neither.
CUT TO:
25.

27. EXT: STREETSIDE PATIO TABLE - DOWNTOWN LISBON - DUSK
As the sun sets on the Middle Ages and over the housetops
lining the crowded street, two men are sitting at a small
table on a popular outdoor cafe patio debating. One young
and one old, they are emotional and boisterous.
It is a young Christopher Columbus and his soon-to-be father-
in-law. Columbus was taller than average: sturdy, a well
proportioned build and fair complexion with freckles, sandy
hair, blue eyes and sharply defined eyebrows.
His soon-to-be father-in-law is a feisty old grey-haired
noble, well-travelled and in fact proudly belonging to the
Knights of Christ - an order once known as the Knights
Templar, prior to their dissolution.
They have been drinking wine all afternoon, and it is now
dusk. Their tempers are settling...
POPS
I’m certain.
CHRISTOPHER
Can we get in to see him this week?
POPS
Maybe next week. Give me a couple
of days and I’ll schedule a
meeting soon enough.
CHRISTOPHER
Should I bring anything?
POPS
No. We won’t be long. Just get to
the bottom line quickly. That’s
all he’ll care about: how much and
how much in return, without any
risk. John is not a gambler.
CHRISTOPHER
Thanks. Before you go - got enough
for a tankard of ale?
POPS
(standing)
When you get in, just remember: you
have to be able to justify the
numbers. The Portuguese have been
sailing across the deep waters of
the Ocean Sea for many years now.
26.

28. CHRISTOPHER
You’ve had a map all these years,
and you didn’t tell me?
POPS
Yours is an ambitious plan, and I’m
not sure the king hasn’t heard it
all before.
CHRISTOPHER
You mean I’m not the first to ask
for a few hundred men and ships to
claim not only the land and the
people but also the trading routes?
POPS
(sitting)
You don’t know how big this
opportunity is; even we can’t
quantify it. That’s why no one
king will advance a fleet and men
capable of sailing for such a
length ... and an armed force
capable of claiming such land.
Years ago, we traded wine for
silver, and we got paid to deliver
it. We really don’t want to go
public with these trading routes.
CHRISTOPHER
You only get one shot at the brass
ring. Go big or go home - isn’t
that what they say? All or
nothing. As you know, I’ve gone
out to Iceland, and back, and down
past Africa. Their New Found Land
is a few weeks voyage further
westward. I say it’ll be either us
or the English who’ll re-claim and
re-establish those trading routes
known before the Black Death
familiar to your friends in the
Order, and they will be lucrative.
POPS
I know, I know. From there we just
follow the coast. But what happens
if you end up in the middle of
nowhere. The winds and the
currents on any day can drive a
good sea captain mad.
27.

29. CHRISTOPHER
These new caravels are fast and
reliable and they’ll take the
excess weight of the water barrels.
Don’t forget, they’ll also get us
the latest equipment and
technology.
POPS
(standing)
What happens if no one likes you,
when you finally get to where
you’re going? It’s one thing to
pay the men and promise the
investors, but who’s to say the
Indians haven’t a better system
than ours. What will you offer the
people when you find them and their
land?
CHRISTOPHER
I don’t dwell on the negative.
I’ll tell the court and his majesty
that we will find a faster route to
India, and thus their gold, by
sailing west into the setting sun
... and we’ll find a new world
along the way. We will claim all
new lands found for the crown and,
of course, people too in the name
of Portugal. These people will
forevermore mine the natural
resources from these territories
and develop civilized markets that
will buy Portuguese products and
services.
CUT TO:
EXT. SMALL TABLE IN THE COURTYARD - MORN
1481. Three men sit around a table; one obviously wealthier
than the other two, the other two being Christopher Columbus
and his father-in-law, the now retired sea captain.
During the time of the wars with the Moors, the Spanish
learnt much from their Arab neighbors. The new carrack and
its successor the caravel both incorporated the Arab lateen
sail that made ships much more manoeuvrable, aided by
instruments and technology previously unheard of in Western
Europe.
28.

30. So, they are discussing the latest innovations in ship design
and sharing a steaming loaf of fresh bread together while
negotiating a deal to finance an expedition.
SIMON
Okay, we’re moving from the old
carrack to the caravel ... bigger
and faster. So, get to it. What’s
the bottom line?
CHRISTOPHER
(humbly)
Yessir. Right Sir. If you lend us
the money to outfit 100 new ships,
we’ll share the assets equally, and
then we’ll also own and negotiate
the shipping rights. We just need
to hire and train crews, build the
ships, and find an administrative
group to manage our scroll work and
map acquisition, and the revenue,
of course. I think the king would
want to send along some of his men.
POPS
We need to find traders too.
SIMON
That’s if the king grants us a
license. And what would all your
navymen do once landing the traders
ashore? You would need to feed
them for the duration, and that’s
if you get them there in one piece.
CHRISTOPHER
We’d get there. But that’s a good
point.
SIMON
Yes. I wonder how much one ship
could bring back.
CHRISTOPHER
The bigger ships - 70 tons, but I
was wondering about the crews.
You’re right - I should put them to
work ashore and keep ‘em busy.
POPS
Build a harbor to ship all the gold
and silver we’ll be getting from
our friends.
29.

31. SIMON
Take some good masons with you.
CHRISTOPHER
And that’s the other point. We’ll
be opening up trading routes that
have been closed for nearly 100
years. What is a minimum amount
required to outfit and man a ship
for a 70-day voyage?
POPS
The money lenders say it doesn’t
matter. We must pay the costs.
Someone soon will send 100 ships if
not us, and claim these lands and
all revenues as theirs.
SIMON
They will get their money back,
when and if the king supports the
idea of finding new lands. Of
course if he doesn’t support us,
he’ll be sending an army this time
next year to capture the land back
from the English or the French.
CHRISTOPHER
(excitedly)
I’ll command the biggest fleet
ever! Well, since King Solomon's
Navy. But the earth is not that
big, we’ll not need the 70 days ...
Much less.
SIMON
By the way, what did you mean
earlier when you said “map
acquisition”?
CHRISTOPHER
A good question for Pops.
POPS
A long time ago, my ancestors
regularly sailed to and fro, from
La Rochelle and other ports to
places across the Ocean Sea.
30.
(MORE)

32. They traded many goods between
partners, mostly wine from Bordeaux
for silver from Argentina, and with
their newfound knowledge acquired
during the time of the Crusades
financed and built many great
cathedrals on behalf of the growing
Roman church, and the societies to
support them. Then, as incredibly
wealthy landowners and traders,
with their fleet headquartered
mainly in a region controlled by
the Normans, one day they were
forced to leave their lands in
France during the reign of an
indebted Philip The Fair, and many
settled in Portugal and Spain,
after first landing jobs in
Scotland. After they fought with
the Scots and beat Edward at
Bannockburn, they eventually sailed
in new ships across the ocean with
their treasures, vowing never to
return. I have a map and scrolls
that indicate that with a good wind
we can cross the ocean, find the
treasures and begin to trade again
with the people there. But they
did return one day, and their
ancestors live among us - as do
thoughts of their treasures, if
they still remain in these new
lands, a new world.
CHRISTOPHER
So we will tell the King that we
will find a faster path to India by
heading into the setting sun, that
the earth is smaller than we think.
That we know of no treasures. But
first we must acquire the maps from
an old friend of mine.
SIMON
Okay, if you find and acquire the
maps, then I’ll introduce you to
the King. But before you do that,
we must meet my money guy.
CUT TO:
31.
POPS (cont'd)

33. EXT. COBBLED STREET MIDDAY
Two men and running down the street, toward the local patio.
It seems that if they could they’d click their heels in mid-
air with glee.
CHRISTOPHER
The King is dead. John is surely
in our palm. We must find those
old maps. It’s his decision now.
POPS
Where are we going to find the men
for 100 ships?
CHRISTOPHER
The King will provide for all, you
said. Ha. Now we must find them.
Where did you see them last?
POPS
We’ll find them. Should we take
any women?
CHRISTOPHER
Not unless we want to incur the
wrath of the Church.
POPS
We’ll find the maps, but I’m not
sure he likes the idea of sending
an armada under your command.
CHRISTOPHER
Logistics. He has the money.
We’re just asking to manage some of
it.
POPS
...that he might not see again,
which would surely incur the wrath
of his people, who would see their
taxes increase due to a bad
investment. Does he really have
the appetite for such a venture?
CHRISTOPHER
He may be a Knight, but he’s also
human. He’s greedy just like the
rest of his courtiers and advisors.
32.

34. POPS
He has taken an oath to protect the
poor, and not just sustain this
economy but grow it and allow their
scientists to manage the earth,
once his Admirals discover it all.
They’ve seen the map, and surely
heard the stories from captured
Moors.
CHRISTOPHER
Protection isn’t cheap. He can’t
keep exploring; he has to claim
sooner or later.
POPS
Then he incurs the wrath of the
Spanish, and the English, and the
French, and maybe the Dutch too.
CHRISTOPHER
The trade routes are too valuable.
POPS
There’s a lot at stake. The big
armies can fight for land and
titles here, but to claim the
unknown is risky.
CHRISTOPHER
It’s a race and we’ll win it. We
have a map! Somewhere....
And they run off down the road, heading towards the square
for a decanter or two, and tankard or two.
FADE TO:
EXT: PATIO IN A COURTYARD - DUSK
A year later. Two men are seen quickly approaching the small
table at the patio in the courtyard. They don’t seem happy
and are not talking as they sit down at their usual table.
CHRISTOPHER
What went wrong?
(yelling)
Keep it coming, barkeep!
33.

35. POPS
The numbers. King John does not
believe we can reach the outposts
with these ships, or return. All
will be lost, and from his point of
view, most importantly, his
investment. Besides, they believe
the fastest route to the East is
around Africa.
CHRISTOPHER
(dejected)
It wasn’t even his money - just his
name. I have my reputation - it’s
unblemished. I’ve been sailing for
the Genoese for years. Will the
king of Spain at least see us?
POPS
We’ll see him, through his wife,
Isabella, and the House of
Branganza. The French and English
courts are interested too.
CHRISTOPHER
What should we say...? Ten ships,
plant a flag and return with a
detailed description. I thought we
said all the right things last time
with our plan ... and gave it an
official sounding name: Enterprise
of The Indies.
POPS
Portugal likes what they have.
They are mundane. We’ll get new
backers. We’ll have to leave here
soon though.
CHRISTOPHER
First there was Simon. Then
Robert. Then that Santos guy. We
started with 100 ships to get us
there and back - can we really do
it with 10? What if they won’t
even finance 10...?
POPS
I’m surprised we were able to find
the crews. But no shortage of
traders to join us.
34.

36. CHRISTOPHER
Or money lenders - so long as you
have the ear of the king.
POPS
They have their own reasons surely,
and maybe not all related to money.
CHRISTOPHER
Maybe we should just outfit the
ships with traders? They can man
the sails in exchange for the right
to bring back goods along with a
partner or two.
POPS
We might find enough for 3 ships in
that case - small ships at best.
We only need to bring back proof.
There weren’t that many traders!
CHRISTOPHER
And where can we find more traders?
Spain?
POPS
Spain.
CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM OVERLOOKING COURTYARD - MORNING
As fate would have it, King John II refused again to finance
their ambitious plan, Enterprise of The Indies, based on an
initial voyage of exploration, which left Columbus little
choice but to move on.
As the sun rises, so is Christopher Columbus. The sunlight
streams into his window. He stretches, looks rather bored,
and begins to talk.
CHRISTOPHER
(grumbling)
I had way too much last night. I
don’t remember how I got home.
What am I doing today? I can’t
believe I’ll have to spend another
day in the courtyard telling people
we can set sail today and reach a
new world tomorrow and be rich
forever. Rich and famous.
35.

37. DIEGO
(entering)
Oh, father - get up. We’re off to
Spain today! And maybe this time
you’ll get the money.
Diego, his young son, sits up upon the bed, as his father
explains further, quietly and compassionately.
CHRISTOPHER
We’ve offered everybody a piece
along the way. If the king and
queen don’t give us the money, then
we think the money lenders will
give us what we need to secure the
equipment and to feed men on 3
small ships, a mix of good traders
and sailors.
DIEGO
And what of me?
CHRISTOPHER
You will learn to read and write as
a loyal subject of Spain, while a
Page in the service of the young
Prince.
So by the end of 1484 Columbus, now a widower, and his child
Diego moved to Spain.
CUT TO:
EXT: TOPSIDE OF A CARAVEL - DAY
After several days at sea, the ship docked at Palos de La
Frontera in southern Spain. Diego was then about five years
old, and Columbus was taking a few moments to soothe his son
on deck.
CHRISTOPHER
We’ll make it. I will get an
audience with the queen. In the
meantime, we need a place to stay
and a good meal, and I am told we
are welcome at a nice monastery
down the road.
CUT TO:
36.

38. INT: MONASTERY - MORNING
Almost destitute, Columbus found hospitality at the nearby
Franciscan Monastery of Santa Maria de La Rabida where he had
soon confided his plans to sail westward, showing his
Portolan maps and numerous charts to Friar Juan Perez, a
confessor of Queen Isabel.
In a bland and sparsely adorned room overlooking the gardens
of the monastery, a father and son - dressed only in their
linen underclothes - sit against the headrest on a lone bed.
Diego is playing with a small, hand-carved wooden ship,
enjoying the comfort of his father and warmth of the sun.
CHRISTOPHER
Well, Diego you’re not going to
believe this, but the good brothers
will get me an audience with the
queen. As it turns out, Friar Juan
is indeed the queen’s confessor.
DIEGO
(distracted)
I’m happy for you, father.
CUT TO:
INT: INNER COURT OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA - DAY
Several years later, in 1487, Columbus went to the Court of
the Spanish sovereigns then still fighting the Moors at Santa
Fé, Granada, attempting to cleanse their young Christian
country of Muslims.
After years of practice, he presented his business case for
his great enterprise and anticipated discoveries. However,
although interested, they refused to meet his demands of a
title, control and a percentage.
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, that’s right, I said Admiral.
KING FERDINAND
They may do that in Portugal, but
we don’t do it here. Go find the
money and we’ll give you the assent
you need.
37.

39. QUEEN ISABELLA
Truly ... Admiral? Surely you
jest. We have heard of your
travels and your exploits as a
sugar buyer. But we must first
defeat the Moors and finish
reclaiming Spain.
KING FERDINAND
And don’t forget the Jews.
CHRISTOPHER
Maybe we can take some of them off
your hands.
KING FERDINAND
(nodding)
Maybe some of them will pay for
your expedition. We will not, and
we certainly won’t give you the
title of Admiral of the Ocean Sea.
CUT TO:
INT: INNER COURT OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA - DAY
Five years later, in 1492, the fall of Granada signalled the
end of the war with the Moors. The Spanish sovereigns
suddenly consented, recognizing mounting English and French
commercial interest, and agreed to offer their assent for an
expedition led by Columbus that would reach the Indies by
going westward more quickly than going east.
This was fortuitous - timing is everything - and Columbus
could not have foreseen this lucky break, finally.
In front of a full audience of courtiers and advisors, as
they read from a royal scroll, the king and queen acquiesce
to the demands that Columbus had made previously, which he
graciously accepts by nodding and bowing.
KING FERDINAND
According to these capitulations,
Columbus is to gain the titles of
Admiral of the Ocean Sea, Viceroy
and Governor General of all lands
that he would discover, and take
for himself to use as he wishes ten
percent of whatever would be
acquired overseas.
38.

40. So, he set out to find spices, gold and the finest silk.
CUT TO:
EXT: AT A COURTYARD TABLE IN A SPANISH PLAZA - DAY
To be clear, the European Age of Exploration began because of
a severe shortage of bullion - the cash needed to pay for
food ... to acquire the land to feed the people.
Their economy overall was dependent on gold and silver, and
with domestic supplies low, much of Europe was plunging into
a recession. As their appetites for new conquests grew,
European sovereigns were becoming less and less chivalrous.
Columbus is talking with a new acquaintance, a trusted man
called Berardi, who is astutely arranging the financing and
managing the administration, on an actual operational level,
of the expedition.
CHRISTOPHER
With the defeat of the Moors, the
crown has acquired all the asiento
licenses and their royalties.
BERARDI
The slavery issue is delicate but
one that is lucrative for the king
and queen. In your forthcoming
talks with their advisors I’m
certain they’ll ask not only about
finding and possibly securing more
personnel but also shipping rights
and using Africans in the new
colonies.
CHRISTOPHER
The new pope will create some
excitement in the courts of all
royal sovereigns ... but I’m not
sure if the Church is in the right
hands.
BERARDI
These are desperate times indeed.
We not only have the Inquisition to
consider, but also the race to
claim and secure new colonies. As
we both know, there are tremendous
riches across the sea.
39.

41. CHRISTOPHER
Yes, I hear John Cabot is now close
to securing the support he needs
from the English crown.
BERARDI
The old pope had intended to
finance the new Crusades with gold
from the New World.
CHRISTOPHER
(agape)
That’s a lot of gold! Though I
hear the new pope has other
designs.
BERARDI
The crown will decide soon.
CHRISTOPHER
I’m not so sure the two sides are
evenly matched. The race is on!
The men clink their goblets and enjoy the afternoon sun and
the throngs of people in the plaza.
CUT TO:
EXT: TOPSIDE OF A CARAVEL DOCKING IN BARCELONA - DAY
While holding his son’s hand, Columbus is topside talking to
a sailor while awaiting to disembark. The sailor is going
about his business, of winding a large rope into a coil.
CHRISTOPHER
(amazed)
... So, you’ve seen these islands?
SAILOR
They’re not so far off the horizon.
In the cleanest and warmest waters
I’ve visited.
CHRISTOPHER
And the men and women are without
clothing? Or bedding? Or shops or
houses as we know them?
SAILOR
Nor armies to defend them. Though
I believe they are clothed. Well,
mostly...
40.

42. CHRISTOPHER
Then they are not civilized? And
there are no outposts, commanderies
or lodges...?
SAILOR
None that we have seen. None that
we have heard of ... and we
would’ve come across their own
ships by now.
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, I believe you should have ...
by now.
CUT TO:
INT: LOCAL BARCELONA PRISON - INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
Two men are seated and talking, while surly guards look on.
Columbus is hearing the story of a barroom brawl and the
death of one their mutual friends.
The other man is a long-time friend of Columbus and one who
always loves to sail with three co-horts who have offered to
break him out of prison if he comes on the trans-Atlantic
trip to India with them.
CHRISTOPHER
Let me get this straight. If I get
assent and hire you to go across
the Ocean Sea, then your men will
break you out of the king’s prison.
PRISONER
Yes, that’s right. I haven’t been
found guilty yet, and we’re arguing
special circumstances - in that we
believe he brought upon his own
death by engaging me in a fight.
CHRISTOPHER
In other words, if he weren’t so
stupid, he’d still be with us
today.
PRISONER
Yes. So when do we sail?
41.

43. CHRISTOPHER
Well, we still have to finalize our
deal with Isabella. We do have a
back-up plan.
PRISONER
Talk around here says she’s willing
to offer her jewels to guarantee
the loan from Vespucci in the
interests of de Medici and his
investors.
CHRISTOPHER
We’ll sail clearly under a Templar
red patte. Realistically, it’s
more politically motivated. I need
to get to America, and to do so
I’ve convinced them that I can get
to India by going the shorter way
across the Atlantic.
PRISONER
Won’t you stay in America?
CHRISTOPHER
That’s the whole point - there’s
nothing there for me. I’m not
going to India - I just want to
claim the routes. We’re looking
for America, and the Templar
outposts that are said to be there.
When we find those we’ll not only
find their treasures, but we’ll
find their old trading partners.
We’ll be rich.
PRISONER
Maybe you’ll find new cities.
Maybe not. But how did the Jews
get into this?
CHRISTOPHER
The Inquisition. They refuse to be
baptized and now are being kicked
out of Spain. The king has set a
date. He realistically knows they
can’t all physically leave by that
time. However, the people need to
know he’s taking action. So I’ll
publicly declare that I’m
transporting his majesty’s first
evicted Jews and taking them to a
land across the ocean ...
42.
(MORE)

44. a dangerous trip, one never before
navigated.
PRISONER
Okay, it’s just a big spin to get
the money to equip the ships. You
just need qualified men. You need
the best men, you need me.
CHRISTOPHER
We still need to convince Ferdinand
that it’ll cost the good king
nothing, solve his public relations
disaster in the making and possibly
make him even more rich, and better
yet possibly locate some of
Isabella’s ancestral brethren
across the sea, claim their lands
and tax their businesses.
PRISONER
(laughing)
I’ll bet you say you’ll also prove
once and for all that the earth is
not flat.
CHRISTOPHER
(winking)
And find new people and new revenue
for our church, of course.
PRISONER
So, will you get me out of here?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, I’ll tell the guys to let
loose and storm the gates. Then
I’ll speak to the preceptor when
the time is right. You’re right, I
need you.
After motioning to the guards, Columbus departs after they
warmly shake hands, fondly recalling, silently, moments
shared together and those new adventures to come.
Columbus heads off into the light of the day; the prisoner
returns to the darkness and chaos of the dungeon, content.
CUT TO:
43.
CHRISTOPHER (cont'd)

45. EXT: OUTDOOR PLAZA IN PALOS - DAY
Columbus, having failed to convince the Portuguese King John
II about his dream of finding unclaimed land to the west
years ago, has simplified his plan and seeks money and royal
assent in Spain, offering a quicker route to the East, though
is prepared to approach both kings in France and England if
no assent is given by Ferdinand.
However, in Spain, he is met with the same type of rejection,
initially - but there are other forces at play. Eager to
loan money, well-placed Jews also plied the courts and one,
Luis De Santangel, is finance member of King Ferdinand's
Court.
Columbus proceeds to press his opinions on the crown. But
the royal treasury in Spain does not have sufficient funds to
pay for such a risky expedition ... so Santangel offers to
advance and underwrite the cost of the voyage.
The two men are walking through the plaza and discussing the
offer to finance an expedition.
CHRISTOPHER
So you will provide the money for
the ships I need and the crew?
SANTANGEL
We will.
CHRISTOPHER
I have been approached by others
too. Do you know of them?
SANTANGEL
The Italians?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, a group of influential bankers
led by Berardi.
SANTANGEL
Yes, they are a powerful syndicate.
They will finance other explorers
like Vespucci and Cabral ...
Portuguese or Spanish ships ...
they don’t mind the colour of the
flag.
44.

46. CHRISTOPHER
I am meeting with Vespucci soon.
He is knowledgable I hear. He
knows of Isidore’s writings.
SANTANGEL
Isidore writes of four continents,
but the Church says the earth is
flat and has three continents:
Europe, Asia and Africa.
CHRISTOPHER
I am told he knows of the ancient
Greek philosophers as well.
SANTANGEL
Yes. Although Homer said the earth
can lay flat upon a disc, both
Plato and Aristotle understood the
earth to be a sphere.
CHRISTOPHER
There has been a lot of talk from
Florence. Have you heard more?
SANTANGEL
Toscanelli, the librarian, believes
you can sail west to find the spice
producing lands of the east that
were described by Marco Polo so
many years ago. He has led a
generation of thinkers and
explorers - and now financiers.
CHRISTOPHER
But money is hard to find. There
are many plans, and many routes to
explore. Spain only has the
Canaries - though it makes an
excellent jumping off point into
the Ocean Sea.
SANTANGEL
As I was saying, today the Italians
discuss in their cafes and in their
academies whether the regions below
the equator are habitable; they
even discuss the possibility of new
races and have revived many
exciting ancient theories.
45.

47. CHRISTOPHER
I have heard it is easier to
finance a war than a bakery, not to
mention a modern explorer’s fleet;
even one with a map!
SANTANGEL
It’s all a question of who you
know, not what you know; to the
victor go the spoils of war. The
monarchs can only grasp so much
from all the people who advise them
each hour and each day. Both
Ferdinand and Isabella have both
given away Moorish captives as
slaves to their friends.
CHRISTOPHER
Berardi has heard my plan.
SANTANGEL
Then so too has Vespucci.
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, likely. He is a good friend.
We have approached other bankers:
the Pinellos, the Centurione, the
Dorias, the DiNegri, and the
Spinolas.
SANTANGEL
Then the fate of your fabled
Enterprise of the Indies and your
own fate rests with the financing
proposal that Vespucci will bring
back to you. Surely he will
introduce money from the Rivarol,
Capatal and Catagno families too.
CHRISTOPHER
Perhaps you and I can strike deal.
After all, you only want to secure
passage for certain families?
SANTANGEL
There are other considerations -
but co-financing is not out of the
question. We’ve done those deals
before ... for other mutually
beneficial projects.
46.

48. CHRISTOPHER
(mumbling)
I almost forgot, I also enjoy the
support of the Cattaneos of Genoa.
SANTANGEL
Now the Moors are finished in these
lands, you might simply want to
suggest to the catholic monarchs
that their domain can be expanded
by looking west - and not into
Portugal, but across the sea.
CUT TO:
INT: DARK ROOM WITH ROUND TABLE IN CENTRE
Amerigo Vespucci is meeting with a group of seven men.
Candles, dark and ominous. The mood is set with Gregorian
chanting.
VESPUCCI
We now know he has the Toscanelli
map. He can sail to Nova Scotia in
the north and I trust he can sail
to Argentina in the south. The
Pope says he’s done it before ...
crossed the Ocean Sea.
GROUP OF SEVEN
Yes.
VESPUCCI
We know he is driven and has the
passion. We know he has the crew.
We can provide the technology and
send him on his way immediately to
find a faster and more profitable
route to India, China and Japan ...
and the new world in between.
GROUP OF SEVEN
Yes.
VESPUCCI
He is well-spoken. The royals will
grant their assent soon. The Jews
and the Templars will co-finance
supplies and mens’ wages. The
Jews want to buy passage, and the
Templars want to find treasures.
47.

49. GROUP OF SEVEN
Yes.
VESPUCCI
We will control the routes, whether
I find them, or others. We will
control the growth and expansion of
the new world. We will manage the
human resources needed to maximize
the hidden wealth of the lands.
GROUP OF SEVEN
Yes.
VESPUCCI
It is agreed: Columbus will sail
under the red patte. He will find
the new world, and open the trade
routes once again.
GROUP OF SEVEN
Yes. It is agreed.
They all raise their goblets in unison.
CUT TO:
INT. SMALL WORKSHOP - BUSY STREET - DAY
Below, street level, in a small workshop full of measuring
devices and brass instruments of all shapes and sizes,
Columbus is meeting his technologist, a medieval astronomer
called Leonardo. As Columbus dances down the stairs, and
upon entering, the mood is lightened by the sounds of Top 10
harpsichord music.
CHRISTOPHER
Good to see you again. It’s been a
while, but I said I’d be back with
an order for you. Do you have all
the technology that we require?
LEONARDO
Of course - our African friends
have been inventive over the years.
I was expecting you earlier. Let
me run through the essentials that
you’ll need.
CHRISTOPHER
I want the finest of everything ...
and take your time.
48.

50. LEONARDO
First, we have the latest
Astrolabe. I’ll call it
transitional. It’s not the simple
model that the Portuguese use, and
it’s not as detailed as the
Planispheric. This one has
interchangeable plates, as I
understand your ships might be
crossing from the Northern to
Southern hemispheres. The siting
vanes fold flat on the alidade to
prevent harm in transport.
CHRISTOPHER
Smart - it was quite rough last
time out. We lost a ship.
LEONARDO
Here’s an armillary. I was told
you would be teaching new captains.
I think you’ll find this
indispensable in understanding the
position of the stars, even though
I really don’t think the earth is
the center of the universe.
CHRISTOPHER
Do you have any new sundials?
LEONARDO
Yes, we’ve improved the original
navicula. They’re mobile now, and
should easily fit into a vest
pocket. You’ll be able to quickly
tell time, so long as you keep
track of the months and the seas
are calm.
CHRISTOPHER
Thanks. What else...?
LEONARDO
Nothing but the best: an exquisite
quadrant, and one of the finest
pieces I’ve ever seen. As you’ll
note, we’ve painstakingly etched
the graduations and it’s complete
with a shadow square.
49.

51. CHRISTOPHER
(leaning closer)
But you must be holding “the best”
for last?
LEONARDO
Well, we do have a couple of boxed
compasses - for use by your men on
land ... and my masterpiece: the
cross staff, or the Kamal as our
Arabian friends like to call it.
CHRISTOPHER
I’m listening.
LEONARDO
We’ve improved on the Celtic Cross,
and this version is much more
durable than the Kamal. It’s fully
calibrated and you can use geometry
to ascertain distance as well.
CHRISTOPHER
Yes, it’s all about the angles, as
they say. You’ve done well. Our
men will improve on the maps we
have. We know there is land and
water; ‘how much’ is the question.
LEONARDO
(quietly)
... and we know the earth is round.
CHRISTOPHER
These instruments will serve us
well. We thank you.
LEONARDO
Yes, all of us. Anyway, any time.
Now, you must succeed...
Someone else, another potential customer, enters the shop,
looks around in bewilderment and astonishment, as Columbus
bids Leonardo farewell. They shake hands and he leaves.
CUT TO:
EXT: COURTYARD PATIO TABLE - DAY
Columbus is sitting at a slender, more refined wooden cafe
table than his usual heavy wooden table in Portugal, drinking
wine with two other men, and gesturing with his hands.
50.

52. In a very animated manner, they are vibrantly discussing
their approach to the King of Spain and his wife, Isabella,
the Queen, as they have been granted an audience to sell a
quicker route to the East.
They have been planning for months. They have nearly closed
the deal. They are excited and convinced their trip to
America will be financed, one way or another, by the end of
this day.
The Pinzons, a shipbuilding family from Palos, will fulfil an
obligation by providing two swift new caravels.
This is the first meeting between Columbus and the two Pinzon
brothers, both renowned sailors, and they have been enjoying
several bottles of wine at their table on a patio.
CHRISTOPHER
(drunken)
I can’t believe the hoops they make
us jump through.
PINZON YOUNGER
(drunken)
All in a day’s work.
PINZON ELDER
(drunken)
You can say that easily; you
haven’t had to run the numbers for
the past six months. I hate
business plans. The timelines are
impossible and the budgets are
complete fabrications - but we need
to prove competency - not to
mention the fact we need to
illustrate it costs money to make
money. It’s all about the balance.
CHRISTOPHER
Well, I’m confident we can do it
with three caravels and a crew of
90.
PINZON ELDER
I’m certain. At least, we won’t
need to rely on cowards and thieves
to man the ships. From what I
know, it’s an all-volunteer force.
51.
(MORE)

53. It’ll be nice to have the pre-
launch and operational costs to get
across the sea comfortably covered
in advance and, in the name of the
crown, enjoy a long sail among
experienced and trusted hands for
once.
CHRISTOPHER
Well, there is one little thing
then. I need Ricardo - and I’m
getting him out.
PINZON YOUNGER
Ha - no surprise - I’ll take him
and his boys, they’re a welcome
addition to our crew anytime.
CHRISTOPHER
Indeed. They can pump, climb and
clean with the best of them.
PINZON YOUNGER
...and they can handle a knife...
PINZON ELDER
True, and they never complain, and
they certainly won’t on this trip
either! It’s a good decision. We
need Ricardo and his men.
CHRISTOPHER
Then things will be a little tight.
We’re going to have 39 aboard the
Santa Maria, 26 on the Pinta and 22
on the Nina. They’ll be sleeping
deckside, tho’ giving us plenty of
room for provisions.
PINZON ELDER
(nodding)
Yes. They’ll be served luxuries
after a hard shift aboard:
biscuits, salted meat and dried
peas, along with a tidy allotment
of cheese ... and wine.
PINZON YOUNGER
We’re bringing the maximum amount
of water barrels.
52.
PINZON ELDER (cont'd)
(MORE)

54. We’ll also be netting fish, and the
men will roast meat and boil water
on the fires daily - we’re
installing sandboxes in ships these
days, you know.
CHRISTOPHER
Good. The men expect nothing more
than to be treated with greatest
respect and we must keep their own
thoughts paramount with each
decision we make. But we have done
well thus far. Remember,
originally I was asking for 100
ships, men and supplies!
PINZON ELDER
Okay, so we know we can get there,
and we’ll claim the land in the
name of Spain when we get there,
and our brothers don’t care about
the claim, but they want the
trading routes to remain with us,
and the recurring quarterly revenue
will be very lucrative for us. We
know the church will claim the
souls of the Americans, who they
think will be Indians, or soldiers
of the great Khan. They will be
managed by the Crown’s economists.
We, however, intend to find the
lost outposts.
PINZON YOUNGER
And we must find the treasure!
CHRISTOPHER
We must find our lost brethren.
When we return we will inform the
king of the new lands and the new
citizens we have found.
PINZON YOUNGER
... and he owns...
CHRISTOPHER
... and the new businesses we can
create, and faster more profitable
access to new trading partners...
PINZON YOUNGER
... and we won’t need to use the
Arabs as traders. We’ll be able to
deal direct...
53.
PINZON YOUNGER (cont'd)

55. CHRISTOPHER
(reflective)
... and cut out those middle men...
PINZON ELDER
But the king will be most
interested in the gold and silver.
He needs to greatly replenish the
treasury, now that the war with the
Moors is over.
PINZON YOUNGER
... and the Jews, his own money
lenders, will soon be gone.
CHRISTOPHER
We will find both gold and silver,
and Indians, and new lands for our
people to explore and exploit.
Businesses will flourish and tax
revenues will go through the roof.
PINZON YOUNGER
...and the Jews can lend money to
the Indians ... and the colonists
who will surely follow in our wake.
PINZON ELDER
(conclusively)
His majesty will be happy, because
not only will he be “deporting”
Jews and finding new lands to leave
them, but they can now develop
these new lands at their own
expense that they say were once
claimed by a long lost tribe of
theirs... that he will own
ultimately and yet they will only
manage.
PINZON YOUNGER
I think young people - these middle
men - will come with us, and gladly
pay for the expenses of transport
to reach new vacant lands.
CHRISTOPHER
As before, good people will build
towns and cities together, then
better societies and civilizations
will emerge, like those that
certainly have come before ...
54.
(MORE)

56. and in the process, we - and our
sons long after us - will get rich.
PINZON YOUNGER
(toasting)
Ha ha - here’s to getting rich at
the expense of a few weeks sail
across the sea!
PINZON ELDER
A few weeks sail, he says, and the
trust of the crown.
CHRISTOPHER
The men will love us - we’ll get
those distant lands quickly. What
can possibly go wrong? Ha - to the
future (toasting).
The men clink their goblets and laugh heartily.
CUT TO:
INT: OUTER COURT OF KING FERDINAND AND QUEEN ISABELLA
Columbus, with his several financial advisors and barristers
are gathering outside the inner court of the palace
discussing the issue of liability that has just come up with
the crown’s advisors, anticipating approval to receive an
official audience, if they accept.
CHRISTOPHER
(sarcastically)
So let me get this straight. They
want us to hop in three leaky
boats, sail to the Indies in
lightning fast time, claim the land
and any people we find in the name
of the Spanish throne, and bring
back chests of gold and silver...?
BERARDI
Yes, that’s right. Agree to that
and he’ll give you royal assent to
then take the voyage on his behalf
and the backers will then finance
the acquisition and management of
the ships and float the wages for
you, pardon the pun ... if you take
some of their men along on the
pilot voyage.
55.
CHRISTOPHER (cont'd)

57. ADVISOR 2
(quietly)
You, on the other hand, get to try
and locate our lost Templar
friends, their old trading partners
and possibly their treasures too,
all expenses paid.
CHRISTOPHER
(quietly)
And prove the earth is round, don’t
forget.
BARRISTER
Ahem. Getting to the issue at
hand, we must decide the liability,
because if anything were to happen
to you or your men during this trip
across the ocean, the crown or any
of its family members and none of
the court’s advisors can be held
liable for death or injury,
suffered or perceived.
CHRISTOPHER
That’s no different an arrangement
than if you sail in the Italian
merchant navies.
BARRISTER
Except you must personally accept
this liability against future
earnings or royalties assigned.
They will send you back until you
have found what they want, and you
might die trying.
CHRISTOPHER
I have sailed with these fine men
from the Basque and Andalusian
regions for a long time. They know
the risks, and they know the
returns. Nonetheless, I will
obtain a release from all of them,
and they will sign it or they won’t
depart on this historic and
lucrative venture!
BARRISTER
You have learnt well the mistakes
of others. You are now in a
fortunate position.
56.
(MORE)

58. We will accept the advisor’s terms
and he will grant us an audience
today.
CHRISTOPHER
I have asked for nothing other than
the security of my family. I will
be made Admiral of the Sea, among
other things, but they are rather
trivial considering the bigger
picture. There’s a lot to do.
BERARDI
But for now, we must wait.
CHRISTOPHER
We will practice the pitch one more
time. I will lead and introduce my
team. You, sir, will then
eloquently and earnestly explain
the rewards to his majesty, while
further explaining the veracity of
the pilot guides and maps in our
possession.
BARRISTER
Yes, I will. I will be brief and
factual.
CHRISTOPHER
You, sir, will follow and outline
the costs we are incurring and the
risk my men are also willingly
assuming, of both life and limb,
for the good of Spain and the
longevity of the crown. You will
moreover detail the benefits of
sponsoring such a dangerous trip,
in terms of the Jewish problem.
BERARDI
Correct. I will list our partners
and acquisitions, in both talent
and equipment to date, and relate
anticipated expenses upon receiving
their royal blessing and seal of
approval, more importantly. They
will thus understand that these
invested monies will be prudently
managed; that you have a
administrative team in support and
a professional crew to ensure your
success on the operational side.
57.
BARRISTER (cont'd)

59. ADVISOR 2
I will reinforce the mission’s
success by elaborating on the costs
being underwritten by your
partners, and that their
involvement will not undermine the
king’s stated goals of increasing
its possessions of land and new
peoples around the world, on behalf
of the crown and the church ... in
order to increase their own
respective tax bases. And in the
worst case, if you are lost at sea,
he will lose nothing.
CHRISTOPHER
Great, and then I will conclude
spectacularly with my story of the
maps and how they came into my
possession and my commitment to the
project over the long-term in fact
to re-establish communication and
friendly relations with possible
colonies across the sea.
BERARDI
The king and queen will understand
the bottom line. In the short-term
they will acquire new lands and
resources, and peoples to govern...
or perhaps a quicker route to the
East.
ADVISOR 2
... and people to trade with. Not
to mention new markets for our
goods and services.
BERARDI
Yes, and in the long-term we will
discover eventually the gold and
silver mines of the Templar’s
partners so many years ago.
BARRISTER
What if these Templars are still
there in the land called Argentina
and still building their new world?
Well, their descendants anyway.
What if they are quite happy living
among and trading with savages
inland to the west and north. What
will we claim then?
58.

60. BERARDI
What if they are organized, and
enjoying the fruits of civilized
society ... including advanced
weaponry and battle tactics?
CHRISTOPHER
What if they are social? Over the
past 100 years, if they are smart,
the Templars’ children will have
likely built a utopian society that
is living free from tyranny and
oppression.
BERARDI
You mean one free to sell anything
to anyone.
ADVISOR 2
Open markets, as they say.
CHRISTOPHER
It’s all about sales. We’re all
selling something. I need this
trip across the sea - and the crown
needs to be seen as providing a
solution to the Jewish problem, not
to mention the solid upside, which
won’t cost the treasury a single
pesata. We all win, and you’ll all
be handsomely rewarded when we
return. Are you sold?
BERARDI
What are you going to sell the
Templars’ children, if you find
them?
CHRISTOPHER
(reflective)
Clothes. Soap. Maybe some wine.
Whatever they need. More
importantly, we must convince the
king and queen that I will find the
Grand Khan - more quickly than ever
before ... we must have an
interpreter for the voyage to
assure our success.
59.

61. The King’s solemn advisor and colorfully dressed entourage
return immediately and usher all four of them into the inner
court and regal greeting room, respectfully bowing every few
steps once past the huge carved doors and entrance. Columbus
points inside, and then they all enter.
CUT TO:
INT: COURT OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA - DAY
As befitting any court in the Middle Ages, replete with
thrones for the smart and greedy, ego-driven royal couple,
Columbus and his men have approached with care, and have
begun to unfold their plan.
There are questions and answers, and the king and queen
seemed pleased, but pause for reflection - and in these few
tense moments - Columbus and his men anticipate another
flurry of enquiry.
KING FERDINAND
(sternly)
... Let me see if I understand. I
am being asked to give you royal
assent and offer the protection of
the Spanish crown for the lands and
people you are about to find on
your way to India or China by going
westward across the Atlantic...?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes.
KING FERDINAND
And aboard your caravels will be a
complement of Jews, who I will say
are being deported from our lands?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes. Well, two caravels and our
100-tonne flagship, an unnamed nao.
KING FERDINAND
(annoyed)
... You believe the earth not to be
flat and to be a smaller orb than
my scientists - and that once
lucrative trade routes will be
revealed once again.
CHRISTOPHER
Correct.
60.

62. KING FERDINAND
And that this expedition won’t cost
my treasury a single pesata?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes.
KING FERDINAND
And you are guaranteeing your
return to us in good time because
in fact you are in possession of
pilot guides and maps?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes.
KING FERDINAND
Furthermore, you expect to find
gold and silver in abundance?
CHRISTOPHER
Yes.
QUEEN ISABELLA
Moreover that you expect to find
outposts...? And remnants of the
long lost and vanquished Templar
fleet beyond the equator?
CHRISTOPHER
Their children, and their children,
and possibly the Scottish
descendants of Clan Sinclair too,
your highness.
KING FERDINAND
I am compelled to ask whether you
have heard of the seven lost cities
of El Dorado?
CHRISTOPHER
I have not.
KING FERDINAND
Have then you heard of the mythical
Cibola in these very western lands
you intend to find on your way to
India?
CHRISTOPHER
No.
61.

63. KING FERDINAND
So, you have never been told the
story of the bishops fleeing from
this land ahead of the conquering
Moors so many years ago?
CHRISTOPHER
I have not.
KING FERDINAND
I was told you knew of treasures.
I will have you upon the rack if
you speak not the truth now!
CHRISTOPHER
The treasures I speak of are those
that have only been relayed
occasionally by my sailors and
acquaintances, and of the few
stories relayed to me by my father-
in-law, now deceased; bless his
immortal soul.
KING FERDINAND
What are these treasures you seek?
QUEEN ISABELLA
Speak loudly - for all here to hear
you sure and careful words.
CHRISTOPHER
They are the treasures of
abundance, of the clear waters, and
of bountiful land; clean minds,
virgin and rich in promise. I see
the treasures of a vast territory
in the west, and of a quicker route
to India and China for our traders
that lay in the east.
QUEEN ISABELLA
I have heard of Irish monks setting
sail long ago and riding currents
to a remote land of quiet people
and of golden walls and churches,
and buildings to observe the
heavens above closely, to watch
things with tails race across the
sky.
CHRISTOPHER
These are rich stories and
treasures of knowledge.
62.
(MORE)

64. We know not what we will find, but
we must go and look.
KING FERDINAND
(decisive)
You will have no choice. You will
not follow the usual route to Terre
Verde across the sea to pluck
buckets cod from northern icy
waters to find merely oaks ashore.
CHRISTOPHER
(astonished)
I have no choice...?
KING FERDINAND
No. My men aboard will ensure you
travel near the equatorial belt and
follow the stars past the Canary
islands that have their share of
fame these days among the men.
CHRISTOPHER
Beyond the Canaries, we will sail
through the monsters of the deep
and pass the boiling waters without
harm, I assure you, and we will
return, as have many other sailors
before us. But do you not want the
new lands claimed for the crown...?
KING FERDINAND
They are not as important to us as
first finding the gold to then
finance our further explorations.
If not you, there will be others to
step up in your place, be rest
assured you are not the first and
you won’t be the last.
As the king pauses for dramatic effect, his words are left
dangling in the huge room, now completely silent, as no one
dares to speak ... but which leaves a brief window of
opportunity for Columbus to renew the conversation and
acquire his needed assent.
CHRISTOPHER
(imploring)
Please tell me what you know of El
Dorado, of the seven lost cities.
63.
CHRISTOPHER (cont'd)

65. KING FERDINAND
If you find Cibola, you will be
made Admiral of the Seas and have
under your command the largest
naval fleet the world has ever
seen. You will be rich and famous.
Your name will be forevermore
etched into the consciousness of
all who follow in your wake and
footsteps.
QUEEN ISABELLA
You will forget about whatever
treasures you seek, and you will
set out to discover the treasures
we seek, or you won’t set out at
all, unless you truly seek the
company of Frenchmen.
KING FERDINAND
The Dutch won’t have you either,
and your stories of distant knights
and new civilizations over seas.
Let’s talk about what we know ...
The Seven Golden Cities of Cibola.
In some academic circles it is also
known as The Seven Cities of
Antillia, Land of the Golden Man
and Land of the Golden Serpent. My
man here will tell you about these
Seven Cities of Antillia.
COURTIER 1
Certainly. The Seven Cities of
Antillia which are also known as
the Isle of Seven Cities, Septe
Cidades, Sanbrandan or St Brendan
are said to be located lying two
hundred miles west of the Azores.
We refer to these cities as Aira,
Anhuib, Ansalli, Ansesseli, Ansodi,
Ansolli and Con. On these islands
the first humans emerged from
Chichomoztoc, the Seven Caves, and
from these individuals came seven
tribes or clans. By their hands
rose seven cities.
64.
(MORE)

66. The Greeks too, among others,
imagined these 'Isles of the Blest'
beyond the Pillars of Hercules
which legend claimed were 'peopled
not by the dead but by mortals on
whom the Gods had conferred
immortality' and where there was
perpetual summer and abundance. We
believe the island was settled by
the Archbishop of Porto accompanied
by six bishops, onto which they
deposited their vast treasure and
their parishioners in the face of
the Moor conquest in the early 8th
century.
KING FERDINAND
Thank you. My man here will tell
you about the legendary Land of the
Golden Man and Land of the Golden
Serpent.
COURTIER 2
To find the Land of the Golden Man,
or the Gilded Man, and Land of the
Golden Serpent, both referring to
an oasis of purity and eternal joy,
is to find a land of gold, or as we
say, Orlando; something that man
has sought since his arrival on
this earth, a promised land of
golden walls and golden fleece,
discovery ushers in a truly golden
age. The legend supposedly
originated in a custom of the
Chibcha people who each year
anointed a chieftain and rolled him
in gold. Some say Yahweh was a
golden serpent brought from Egypt
and preserved in the ark until its
loss...
KING FERDINAND
(raising hand)
Enough. And I shall now tell you
about El Dorado, or The Golden One,
and its fabulous variants: Omagua,
the Land of Cinnamon, and the
golden land of Manoa; though
perhaps just a utopian dream, a
land of desire.
65.
COURTIER 1 (cont'd)
(MORE)

67. As you know, long ago Pharaohs came
to believe that gold was connected
with life-prolonging qualities,
even with immortality, and they
would risk any hazard to obtain it.
Gold was originally connected in
their minds with magic, it rose to
prominence as a charm, a favored
method of control of the dread
unseen world. The very color of
gold became associated with the
sun. To these peoples the sun was
an object of worship and gold has
been operating like a magnet, an
enchantment, even an addiction ever
since.
CHRISTOPHER
(interjecting)
Gold is the most exquisite of all
things ... Whoever possesses gold
can acquire all that he desires in
the world. Truly, for with gold he
can gain entrance for his soul into
paradise.
KING FERDINAND
Yes, I suppose so. But continuing
... Our histories tell us Guyana
contained the golden city of Manao
or Omoa and the golden king, El
Dorado. It is these lands that are
we most curious, that could have
been visited so many years ago by
the Welch Prince Madoc, or fabled
Brendan, our Christian brother who
we still hear so much, and before
the Irish, the Romans and the
Canaanites, not to mention the
Greeks, Phoenicians and Egyptians
in ancient antiquity. It seems
many have crossed the sea, but none
have returned with the gold. We
have no doubt you will find land
and possibly a quicker route to
India; but will you find the gold?
That is the question.
CHRISTOPHER
My men and I will find these
cities. What of the people there?
66.
KING FERDINAND (cont'd)

68. KING FERDINAND
We expect you will find barbarians,
nothing more. Even your Templar
friends told their masters of
ferocious warriors and of terrible
battles. After you, we will send
our religious fathers to kindly
preach our holy faith and convert
them. If they choose not to be
loyal subjects of this crown, then
we will declare war on them, seize
their possessions, enslave their
women and sons, and dispose of the
men as we see fit. We expect their
absolute allegiance, joyfully. El
Dorado, for many explorers and sea
captains, always lay beyond the
next range of mountains, or deep in
the unexplored forests.
CHRISTOPHER
My captains have secured the
necessary provisions of water,
vinegar, wine, olive oil, molasses,
cheese, honey, raisins, rice,
garlic, almonds, biscuits, dry
chickpeas, lentils, beans, salted
sardines, anchovies, dry salt cod
and pickled or salted meats. We
are ready to set sail.
KING FERDINAND
(turning)
Make the arrangements then. You
will return now to Palos. The city
will provide for this expedition,
in exchange for their debt.
However, return to us in 3 days and
provide my courtiers your
documentation plotting your route,
in the event of your untimely
demise on the waters or at the
hands of the barbarians. In the
meantime, the Pinzon brothers will
need to do some more research for
you here.
QUEEN ISABELLA
(nodding)
I’ll personally escort them and
give them access to the royal map
rooms.
67.

69. KING FERDINAND
(sternly to Columbus)
Once you depart from the Canaries,
you should be ashore in the Indies
several weeks later. The Queen and
I will see you again in Barcelona
in September. Find me those
cities.
CUT TO:
EXT: PATIO TABLE IN PLAZA & OUTER COURTYARD - DUSK
Later on the same day, the three sailors, Columbus, the elder
Pinzon and the former prisoner, Ricardo, are sitting down,
hunched over the small table, to have a drink and discuss the
rather sudden change of plans.
CHRISTOPHER
Well, that was unexpected.
PINZON ELDER
We are familiar with the route. I
say we go and find these cities.
RICARDO
I have heard tales. They are past
the blue waters of the Caribs.
CHRISTOPHER
So we will depart in a few days.
Berardi and my barristers inform me
the paperwork is in order.
PINZON ELDER
We will fit out the Nina at port
when we reach the Canaries.
RICARDO
My men have brought the newest
charts from the Arabs. We won’t
cross south into the sea towards
Brazil, but stay a course westward.
CHRISTOPHER
Then it’s agreed, we will save our
visit to the outposts in Argentina
and Guyana for another trip.
68.

70. RICARDO
If what they have heard as some
validity, and it might, then indeed
we will find a lot of gold that we
can’t possibly bring back.
CHRISTOPHER
We only need to find proof of gold.
PINZON ELDER
Yes, and we can find trinkets on
many of the islands that will
guarantee our return again, and
many others in our wake, under your
command, noble sir.
CHRISTOPHER
Well then this is going to be an
interesting next couple of years.
CUT TO:
INT: SHIP’S CABIN - DAY
In the middle of the sea, after several weeks afloat upon his
flagship the Santa Maria, Columbus is nervously writing in
his log and talking to himself.
CHRISTOPHER
Must stay focussed; must list
objectives and keep crew calm; must
go to the lands of India to meet
the Great Khan, who like his
predecessors, had many times
appealed to Rome to instruct him in
Christianity; to combat the
religion of the Moors and all
idolatries and heresies; see the
towns and lands and their
distribution, and find out in what
manner they might be converted to
Christianity. Must find gold,
spices and everything in such
quantity, as the king intends that
all the wealth gained in this
enterprise, within three years,
should be spent on the conquest of
Jerusalem. I have launched another
crusade.
CUT TO:
69.

71. On a warm October evening in the waters of the Bahamas, the
natives on the island of Guanahani, later to be called San
Salvador by Columbus, had built bon-fires on the beaches to
keep the fleas out of their cabins.
Earlier that day Columbus’ one keen sailor had been dutifully
reporting indications of land in the water: reeds, a tree
branch with berries, and in the sky - birds that nest at
night on land, and now as darkness fell, they sighted a dim
quivering light in the distance which seemed to be moving.
CHRISTOPHER
(bewildered)
Who was that man so excitedly
calling out the very obvious signs
of land...?
FIRST MATE
De Leon. Ponce de Leon. He says
he’s told an advisor in the court
he knows the whereabouts of a
Fountain of Youth, it seems.
CHRISTOPHER
And he has a backer?
FIRST MATE
None other than the queen herself.
CHRISTOPHER
We shall ensure to claim all land
he sees. He will undoubtedly come
back with a fleet - and we will
surely lose our monopoly.
FIRST MATE
Perhaps we should throw him
overboard?
CHRISTOPHER
No. We will give him a chance to
sell the queen a new quest ... and
to arrive alive after enjoying the
pleasures of the Ocean Sea for
several months. Besides, I’m sure
he doesn’t have a plan ... to find
this so-called Fountain of Youth.
CUT TO:
70.

72. INT: ADMIRAL’S CABIN - SANTA MARIA
Columbus is again alone, in his cabin aboard the Santa Maria,
and writing in his captain’s log, while talking to himself,
though excitedly about the lights he has seen.
CHRISTOPHER
(mumbling)
Like a little wax candle rising and
falling...
FIRST MATE (FROM ABOVE)
Land ho!
Around 2:00 a.m. the look-out on the lead ship, the Pinta,
sees white cliffs in the moonlight and signals to the
flagship, the Santa Maria, to verify the landfall as Columbus
is climbing up topside and to the stern.
CUT TO:
INT: THE VATICAN - DAY
Roderigo Borgia — a Spanish Cardinal — got rid of his
predecessor Pope Innocent VIII at the end of July 1492, in
fact before Columbus set sail, and by spending enormous sums
of money managed by just one vote to have himself "elected"
Pope Alexander VI.
Borgia amassed a fortune by pocketing church funds. His
reign helped inspire the Protestant reformation. He fathered
numerous children including Lucrezia Borgia. Machiavelli
based his book, "The Prince", on him.
It was this Pope that signed over the rights to the New World
to Spain on May 1493, after issuing 3 papal bulls that
divided the discoveries of Columbus between Spain and
Portugal by drawing an imaginary line one hundred leagues
west of the Cape Verde Islands.
VATICAN HELPER 1
He will grant the new lands to both
Spain and Portugal, despite
Innocent’s deal with Columbus.
VATICAN HELPER 2
I’m sure the monarchies won’t
launch any new crusades and reclaim
Jerusalem.
71.

73. VATICAN 1
They need gold.
VATICAN 2
We need gold.
VATICAN 1
Everybody needs gold, even
Columbus.
VATICAN 2
Spain and Portugal will mine the
new lands and the new people in
order to fill empty coffers - and
their armies will secure old lands
here again.
VATICAN 1
(mumbling)
Can we secure souls with gold?
VATICAN 2
We will assure our flock a space in
heaven for the right price. I’m
sure there will be protests in
time, unless we keep the bishops
under control.
VATICAN 1
The Pope has asked me to write a
Papal Bull, that I will call Inter
Caetera, that will grant to Spain
the right to hold lands to the
“western regions and to India,” is
how I will phrase it.
VATICAN 2
Thus, Spain will be handed the
Americas, while Portugal is awarded
the colonial trading rights to
Africa and Brazil, which is what
they want.
VATICAN 1
Yes, everyone wins.
FADE TO:
WHITE TITLE: MARCH, 1493 - SEVILLE
72.

74. INT: COURT OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA - DAY
A day of celebration. The outer and inner courts of the
palace at Barcelona are packed with courtiers and advisors.
There is a general excitement that Columbus not only found
land and friendly people likely willing to be baptized, but
also gold.
Columbus and Pinzon Elder are accompanied by Ricardo the
Prisoner, who guides an Arawak man, dressed in European
clothing; his gold jewelry removed. They have given an
initial account to the court and royal couple.
The floor is now opened to questions.
KING FERDINAND
So, after surviving an apparent
mutiny on the way there, you
finally found India, you say, and
these new lands, then promptly ran
aground, lost your command ship,
the Santa Maria, left her 39 good
men ashore, all volunteers of
course, and you yourself were then
taken aboard the Nina and sailed
back here with her crew, but lost
the Pinta on the way back “in a
storm”, as you had in the Antilles
it seems, and yet both arrived back
in harbor on the same day. How
odd.
CHRISTOPHER
You forgot to mention we were also
detained by the Portuguese in the
Azores on the way back.
As Columbus speaks, the king puts his chin in hand and there
is a brief moment of reflective silence when he finishes.
QUEEN ISABELLA
Admiral of the Ocean Sea, and
Viceroy of the Indies ... at least
you planted our royal standard and
properly claimed these distant
lands to the west, and I see you
have brought back some treasures
for us to admire.
CHRISTOPHER
I have.
73.

75. QUEEN ISABELLA
(curious)
Though you have made no mention of
the fabulous cities we discussed.
CHRISTOPHER
It’s true, we have brought back
nuggets and artifacts of gold and
silver. But, yes, it’s also true
we have not discovered the fabulous
cities, nor any lost Europeans
settled from previous expeditions.
We will need to go back.
QUEEN ISABELLA
You have also brought back some
heathen savages, assuredly seeking
truth and wisdom from this court
and our holy brothers.
CHRISTOPHER
We have, though this one is sick
and will die shortly we have 9
others. I believe there is no need
to declare war, your majesty. They
are simple people, seemingly living
in perfect harmony with each other
and their land. I think they are
naturalists. They are untouched by
Khan or his men.
ADVISOR 1
Let me read from your own log, in
your own words your description of
these newly found islanders you
have discovered in the west: gentle
people, innocent of all evil,
timorous, ignorant of murder or
even of weapons, affectionate,
smiling, credulous, quick to learn
and to remember, and of course
"buenos servidores," good servants.
From out of the background emerges Vespucci.
VESPUCCI
I have at my command knowledge that
enables me affirm that the new
lands Columbus has discovered by
his genius are not the Indies or
Japan, as the Genoese would have us
believe, but a new world: Mundus
Novus.
74.